The throne room was made entirely of obsidian and enchanted glass. Suspended above a void of starlight, Kael stepped forward, heart hammering.
There she sat.
Queen Lysaria, his mother. Once the heart of Arden's light, now imprisoned in silence, bound by chains of dreamsilver.
"Kael," she whispered. "You've returned."
Kael knelt, his voice cracking. "Mother... I thought..."
Her smile was soft, but her eyes burned. "She took everything. But not my soul. Not yours."
Behind them, Selene's voice rang like shattering glass. "Touch her, and I break your spine again."
Kael turned slowly.
Selene stood tall, clad in black silk and flame, flanked by the Arcanist Twins—twisted mirror images of Averin, void-eyed and cruel.
"Selene," he said, venom in his voice.
She approached, eyes never leaving his. "You left me. I loved you. And you threw it away."
"You stabbed me."
"I gave you power!" she roared.
Power erupted. The chamber cracked. Chains broke.
Lysaria rose.
And all hell broke loose.
Kael and Selene clashed—magic on magic. Fire versus Vein. Blood versus bond. Mira and Lyssa moved to protect Lysaria.
But one of the Arcanist Twins slipped behind Kael.
A blade flashed.